The Nelson Walling Family

After a grueling 7 months of undiagnosed symptoms, our son Spencer was diagnosed with stage 4  high-risk neuroblastoma. It completely shook our family of 8. We were facing a very long 18 months of intense treatment.  As relived as we were to finally have a diagnosis and a plan of action, it also left us with a devastating diagnosis.  
Spencers spent the first four months completing rounds of chemo with multiple readmissions for neutropenia.
 

At the end of August he underwent a nine hour surgery to remove the tumor. It took him longer than expected to recover, he was holding on to so much fluid. We ended up spending two weeks at Boston children’s. A week after being home - we were readmitted for lymphatic leak. The leak put us behind for starting stem cell transplant as planned. We ended up doing an additional round of chemo. Spencer was on track to start stem cell at the beginning of November. Each stem cell cycle would result in us being relocated to Boston for five weeks.  
 

On October 7, 2019, I was asked to resign. I had used up all of my FMLA, sick time & vacation time and was denied an extension. I begged for them to let me stay with the promise that I would not attend stem cell transplant and would continue working with no further absences. Knowing this would be extremely difficult, Krissy & I were willing to make it work. At the time we had a nine-month-old baby as well as Spencer who was undergoing treatment. We have very little support at home and no one was able to take Simon. Thankfully my in-laws were able to take the 4 older girls. They refuse to let me stay. I had worked as an officer for them for close to 8 years with zero reprimands, 2 awards for saving a mans life, and after I headed up a very large fundraiser for a fellow officer who’s wife had been battling breast cancer. We were blindsided. Left with a mortgage, kids, bills and a life that relied heavily on my income.

At this point, I followed my heart and went to Boston for Stem Cell. We blew through our savings and were able to have a few bills paid by organizations. We knew we both had to be there to support Spencer and Krissy would have not been able to focus on Spencer as well as care for a nursing baby. 

We have returned home from Stem Cell transplant and have moved on to radiation. Our mortgage is extremely behind. We were offered a forbearance and reluctantly accepted. We were told there were no guarantees that we wouldn’t owe the balance in full - that has now ended, we are left without options and owe a large back balance. Losing the house isn't an option for our large family. 
 
The most important piece of this equation is Spencer’s recovery! We are happy to report he is responding very well to treatment. We are approaching the 1 year anniversary of diagnosis!